On Fri (26 Apr), TNP published a news article (‘Charity watchdog in walks with NGO’), revealing an “internal squabble via e-mail involving people behind the Feb 16 Population White Paper protest at Hong Lim Park”.
TNP wrote, “One of the issues highlighted in the e-mail exchanges was the state of the funds raised to organize the event, which about 5,000 people attended.”
“Then, someone alerted the Commissioner of Charities (COC). So the COC has now stepped in and is speaking with the organiser, Transitioning Unemployment Support Services (TUSS).”
TNP added that it found out about the squabble after a reader forwarded the e-mail chain, “which was confirmed to be authentic by several of those listed as recipients.”
TNP said that in the e-mail chain, someone wrote about his unhappiness at being unable to contact Gilbert Goh, President of TUSS, a NGO registered with the Registrar of Societies.
TR Emeritus (TRE) contacted Mr Goh for comments on the matter and he has refuted some of the points published in the TNP article.
Mr Goh said, “It’s sad to see that TNP, in its eagerness to publish the news article, has got some of the facts wrong.”
“There is a misunderstanding between me and some members of the group in the e-mail list but I would like to categorically state that this group has nothing to do with TUSS at all. So I don’t understand why TNP said it was an ‘internal squabble’?”
Mr Goh also said that he in fact, was only introduced to this group after the Feb 16 protest. He said, “They are in fact, an enthusiastic bunch of opposition supporters wanting to lend a hand to the May Day protest when they heard that there would be a second protest.”
Mr Goh added, “TNP also got its information wrong on the fund raising matter too. The group was trying to help raise funds for the May Day protest, not the first one which TNP mentioned that 5,000 people attended. As said, I was only introduced to this group long after the Feb 16 protest. In the article, TNP is trying to portray that there is an internal strife inside the protest organiser, TUSS, which is completely untrue. TUSS is doing fine and proceeding to organise the May Day protest as planned. I want to say again that the group mentioned by TNP is not associated with TUSS in anyway.”
Mr Goh explained that the misunderstanding with some members of the group came about because TUSS declined to take up their funding proposals due to statutory requirements imposed on NGO. He in fact did tell one of the members of the group that he wouldn’t be attending their meeting. However, Mr Goh admitted that he told them late and the members were clearly upset about it. He subsequently sent an e-mail to the group to apologise for not attending the meeting.
He said, “I also e-mailed them to explain that in fact, COC currently wants to review the fund raising activities of TUSS.”
Mr Goh added, “However, I’m quite disappointed that some members of the group later leaked out the e-mail exchanges to TNP. I do not know what is the intention of this person or persons for doing this.”
COC has confirmed that it’s reviewing the fund raising activities of TUSS. TNP quoted COC saying, “Upon receiving public feedback on the fund-raising activities of TUSS, the COC’s office contacted TUSS to seek clarification on matters related to those activities.”
“COC also advised them of their legal obligations under the Fundraising Regulations, which include duty to the donors, use of donations and keeping records of donations received and disbursed.”
Mr Goh also confirmed with TRE that COC, indeed, is seeking clarification from TUSS with regard to its fund raising activities. Mr Goh fowarded the COC’s e-mail to TRE:
From: Mei Chen ONG (MCCY) <ONG_Mei_Chen@mccy.gov.sg>
Subject: Transitioning – Unemployment Support Services
To: “gilbert@transitioning.org” <gilbert@transitioning.org>
Cc: “Ming Lee OOI (MCCY)” <OOI_Ming_Lee@mccy.gov.sg>
Received: Thursday, 11 April, 2013, 10:12 AMDear Mr Goh,
The Office of the Commissioner of Charities has received feedback that Transitioning – Unemployment Support Services [“TUSS”] has been appealing for donations on its website at www.transitioning.org.
2 We would like to bring to your attention that all fund-raising appeals for charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes are regulated under the Charities (Fund-Raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations. There are certain legal obligations under these Regulations that one will need to comply with, in terms of duty to the donors, use of donations and record keeping. Particularly, please be advised that anyone raising funds shall maintain accounting records showing all the donations received and disbursed as well as the expenses incurred. Such records shall be maintained for a minimum of 5 years and may be inspected by the Commissioner of Charities.
3 In view of the above and for us to have a better understanding of the fund-raising activities of TUSS, we would appreciate if you could provide us information on the following:
i. The various types of fund-raising appeals that TUSS is conducting including the modes and the specific purpose of each appeal (e.g. the types of programmes that the donations will be used for).
ii. The period of these fund-raising appeals and the target amount to be raised.
iii. The amount of donations that TUSS has received and the expenses incurred under each appeal.
iv. The procedure and control that TUSS has put in place to ensure proper accountability to the donors (e.g. periodic update to the donors on the use of the donations).
v. The last two years financial statements of TUSS.4 We would appreciate if you could let us have your response by 24 April 2013 and please feel free to contact me if you need any clarification. Meanwhile, if you like to know more on matters relating to fund-raising appeals and its regulations, information is also available online at www.charities.gov.sg.
Thank you.
Ong Mei Chen (Ms)
Assistant Manager (Charities Unit)
Tel: +65 6837 8523 • Fax: +65 6837 8090
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
140 Hill Street, #01-01A, Old Hill Street Police Station, Singapore 179369
COC wanted TUSS to submit all the information before 24 Apr. However, because of the May Day protest, Mr Goh asked COC for an extension till 7 May, after the protest event so that he can have time to prepare the financial information for COC. COC has agreed to the extention till 7 May.
TREmeritus
*Article first appeared on www.TREmeritus.com